You know what it takes to be successful in e-commerce. But do your customers? Whether you work in website design, development, hosting, or business services, it’s important to take a step back and consider a new shop owner’s perspective.

Let’s discuss how to best serve your small-biz customers and win their business again and again. What startup steps are they skipping? What concepts and strategies are they missing? This e-commerce client success checklist will help you help them.

Determine the ideal customer

Maybe your client has designed a brand-new product, or maybe they’re curating a thoughtful lineup that will keep customers coming back. Either way, it’s important to identify the customer niche.

Some new businesses are tempted to cast a wide net and try to attract a wide range of customers, but if you’re aiming for everyone, you might appeal to no one. Especially as a new business, it’s important to choose a specific, ideal customer. It makes it easier to launch targeted marketing efforts and speak with a clear brand voice that stands out in the cluttered e-commerce space.

Choose what to sell

If a new online shop has the freedom and flexibility to change its product lineup, it makes sense to closely follow consumer trends.

For example, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer shopping habits have shifted, and they’re likely to stick. According to a report by BigCommerce, health and wellness and health-management products are trending along with home comfort items and personal entertainment. Luxury sales, on the other hand, are down, most notably among millennials.

Take care of the legal stuff

Has your client consulted with a lawyer? Some new businesses are tempted to gloss over important liability concerns. However, by consulting with a lawyer, startups can get trusted information about legal requirements, including business insurance, business name registration, tax rules, and licensing. This is an upfront investment well worth making!

Plan the inventory model

Online shops can either purchase, hold, and fulfill inventory by themselves or utilize a dropship company. Both options have their benefits, but they are two drastically different approaches. For example, dropshipping doesn’t require capital for inventory or storage, but your client won’t have the same control over fulfillment or returns.

Pick the perfect domain name

For many new business owners, buying their domain name makes the venture feel real. It’s great to remind them of the many top-level domains (TLDs) now available, so they can pair one with their brand name to create a memorable online home. Different TLDs will resonate with different niches and imply a different tone and purpose.

For example, the .SHOP domain extension is a great choice for e-commerce businesses and online shops because it’s clear, universally recognized, and contains an SEO keyword — shop — right in the domain name.

When selecting a business name, shop owners should also consider how it can work as a domain name. After all, your domain is your signpost online. Help them select something that’s:

  • Short
  • Easy to spell and read
  • Memorable
  • Reflective of the purpose of the shop

If you are looking for some fresh and meaningful domain extensions to offer to your customers, check out our full TLD lineup or current TLD promos.

This post was sponsored by the GMO Internet Group, the registry for .SHOP.